Chrome 9 Features Faster HTTPS Via TLS Extension!

As you all know Google is experimenting many features inside chromium labs these days. And we have been following Google team from the day one they started adding new features inside Chromium under about:flags(initially about:labs).

Following are some of the features under about:flags which are being experimenting by Google,

Many features are getting integrated in Chrome final version and few are still under testing.

Just few days back Google updated beta channel to Chrome 8 and final version will be out by end of the month. Chrome 9 build has already started and Google is experimenting many features in it.

The latest build, Chromium 9.0.582.0 added three new experimental features. Following are the explanation on three features,

#1. Snap Start

Description given by Chromium team for snap start is “Enables an experimental TLS extension which removes a round trip from HTTPS handshakes.” I know you would have confused what it is actually.

TLS(Transport Layer Security) is a protocol used in secures HTTPS. We love SSL/TLS because of the privacy and security that it gives to our users and, like everything, we want to make it faster.

How HTTPS works?

When you visit any secure site(HTTPS site), the client(browser) send a handshake request to webserver and waits for confirmation. Once the round trip is completed, client starts retrieving page contents.

This round trip depends on on how far away the webserver is from the client. So usually https site loading time depends on the distance.

Advantage of Snap Start

This feature forces Chrome to proceed to send out a request ahead of receiving the confirmation that the handshake was completed. By the time handshake was successful, you would have already connected to the new page before receiving the notification that the handshake had completed.

#2. Check for known conflicts with 3rd party modules

This is another experimental feature added in Chromium labs/flag. This feature enables a background check that warns you when a software incompatibility is detected (ie. 3rd party modules that crash the browser).

Few days my Twitter buddy @AskAaronLee suggested his friend @LDbyClarissa for her query on Chrome. Her query was,

Chrome keeps giving me an “awe snap” on each page i try to open up, or use. Even the help page. Tried all suggestion in google chrome help forum for this issue and no luck. :/

Well I couldn’t reply to her that time. Here we are explaining what could be reason for that.

Chrome browser usually crashes due to plugin incompatibility. Adobe Flash and a PDF reader plugins sometime doesn’t work properly in few sites. Unusual suggestion is, deleting cookies and flash contents saved by Chrome.

This Chrome experimental feature adds support for these kind of errors.

#3. Experimental Extension APIs

Google says this feature “Enables experimental extension APIs. Note that the extension gallery doesn’t allow you to upload extensions that use experimental APIs.”

This features is mainly added for extension developers who have to create new extensions after the APIs are released. And it enable extensions will be ready and available well before even the feature supporting that extensions is added for all users.

Watch out this space more updates! Browser war is getting hotter day by day!

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These are the three experimental features added by Chromium team in Chrome 9 latest build. Hope you all are excited to see these features integrated by default in Chrome.

Now what you say? Will these features adds still more advantages to Chrome browser? Share what you feel. 🙂 Cheers!!

Vinay Gowda

Kimberly Castleberry

I have a hard time seeing Chrome talk about security while now equivalent to "HTTPS Everywhere" is possible and thus the chrome browser remains susceptible to the FireSheep exploit for any site not explicitly forcing full, continuous SSL. With the ability to steal browser cookies right across the open air waves (non WAP2 encrypted wireless) and cable type wired networks, users of everything from social networks to other websites with logins that they enjoy are currently forced to solve the exploit for themselves. That points to Firefox + HTTPS Everywhere addon until someone at Chrome/Chromium team finds a way to code something similar. For me, Chrome is on the "not trusted with sites I need" list until this is fixed.

Vinay Gowda

Kim, I must say you have a great experience with chrome browser. Well I feel Google team is fixing many bugs which you noted here.
I hope one day they will come bug free browser :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts Kim :)